Why Zune Has Failed


Roughly Drafted argues that Zune has failed as a product and lists three reasons why:

1. Wrong business strategy: a hardware loss leader which would recoup losses via content sales.
2. Wrong product: it ignores usability and instead tacks on features of dubious utility.
3. Wrong service: Redmond hasn't learnt from the failures of subscription services, such as Rhapsody and Napster. The main problem is the strategy of renting music with DRM that stops tracks from playing if subscriptions stop being paid.

Apple, the article points out, has consistently cut iPod prices, increased the number of features and made the iPod Shuffle and nano cheap enough to be popular gifts.

MS, on the other hand, blew off its Plays-for-Sure partners, which left its erstwhile bedfellows dumping their players at firesale prices.

The idea that Zune 2.0 80GB models are sold out? Bogus. MS has undersupplied to stores and reportedly has supplier problems.

There's much more at Roughly Drafted; do you agree?